Like all
sporting events, dog shows have
their own unique set of rules and
terminology. The following is a
helpful list of terms associated
with the sport.
Angulation:
Angles created by bones
meeting at their joints.
Armband:
The number worn on the
handler's left arm that
corresponds to the number listed
in the official show catalog.
Bait:
The food or object the handler
uses to focus the dog's attention
or to have it look alert in the
ring.
Bench
show: A dog show at
which the dogs are kept on
assigned benches when not being
shown in competition, so they can
be viewed and discussed by
attendees, exhibitors, and
breeders.
Best of
Breed: The dog judged
as the best representative of the
breed.
Best of
Variety: Award given in
lieu of Best of Breed for those
breeds divided by varieties. There
are nine breeds divided by
variety: Cocker Spaniels, Beagles,
Dachshunds, Bull Terriers,
Manchester Terriers, Chihuahuas,
English Toy Spaniels, Poodles, and
Collies.
Best of
Winners: The dog judged
as best between the Winners Dog
and the Winners Bitch.
Best of
Opposite Sex: The best
dog that is of the opposite sex to
the Best of Breed Winner.
Breed
Standard: Official
written description of the ideal
dog of each AKC-recognized breed,
as specified by the breed's parent
club. Includes characteristics
that allow the breed to perform
the function for which it was bred
and outlines the structure, form,
movement, coat, and temperament of
the breed. Dog show judging is a
comparison of dogs to this
established standard.
Bred-by-Exhibitor Class:
A regular class for dogs that
are owned or co-owned by one of
the breeders and shown by one of
the breeders or a member of the
breeder's immediate family.
Breeder:
A breeder of a particular dog is
the person who owned the dam
(mother) at the time she was bred
to produce that dog.
Breeder-Owner-Handler:
Someone who exhibits, owns, and
handles the dog they bred.
Catalog:
Official listing of all dogs
entered in the show, categorized
by breed. Each breed is divided
first by sex for class judging of
non-champions. Next, champions are
listed in the Best of Breed class.
The catalog assigns each dog a
number and follows with the dog's
name, AKC registration number,
date of birth, parentage, and
ownership.
Catalog
Order: Ordering of the
dogs in the ring for preliminary
class judging in the order they
appear listed in the catalog.
Champion:
An AKC title conferred upon a
dog that has earned 15 points in
competition as a result of
defeating a specified number of
dogs at a series of AKC dog shows.
Conformation: The form,
structure, shape, and arrangement
of the parts of a dog, as they
relate and conform to the written
standard of the breed.
Conformation Dog Show:
An event held under AKC rules
where championship points are
awarded. The purpose is to allow
breeders to evaluate the success
of their breeding program, with
the goal of achieving structure
and temperament necessary for the
breed's function and to evaluate
dogs for use as future breeding
stock.
Exhibitor:
Someone whose dog is entered
and shown at a dog show.
Expression: The general
appearance of all features of the
head.
Fancy:
The group of people who are
especially interested in purebred
dogs or in a specific breed.
Fanciers usually are active in the
sport of purebred dogs.
Feathering: Longer
fringe hair on ears, tail, or
body.
Field
Trial: Competition for
certain Hounds or Sporting breeds
in which dogs are judged on their
ability and style in finding or
retrieving game or following a
game trail.
Gait:
Pattern of movement of the dog.
Can be described as gallop, trot,
walk, or hackney. Gait is a good
indicator of structure,
temperament, and condition.
Groups:
All AKC-recognized breeds are
a member of one of seven groups:
Sporting (dogs
developed for the hunting of
feathered game); Hound
(dogs commonly used for hunting by
sight or scent); Working
(dogs used to pull carts, guard
property, and for search and
rescue work); Terrier
(dogs originally used to hunt
vermin); Toy
(dogs characterized by very small
size); Non-Sporting
(diverse group of multi-functional
dogs not generally regarded to be
game hunters); and Herding
(group of dogs whose main duty is
to drive livestock from one place
to another).
Grooming:
Making the dog's appearance adhere
to the standard by bathing,
brushing, combing, trimming, etc.
Handler:
A person or agent who takes a
dog into the show ring or who
works the dog at a field trial or
other performance.
Heel:
A command to a dog to keep close
beside its handler.
Judge:
An official approved by the
AKC to judge dogs at AKC events.
Junior
Handler: Person between
the ages of 10 and 18 who competes
in an AKC-sponsored class called
Junior Showmanship. Junior
handlers are judged on their
ability to show and handle their
dog, not on the quality of the
dog.
Match
show: A usually
informal dog show at which no
championship points are awarded.
Miscellaneous Class:
Transitional class for breeds
attempting to advance in full AKC
recognition.
Pedigree:
The written record of a dog's
family tree of three or more
generations.
Points:
Credits earned toward a
championship.
Purebred:
A dog whose sire and dam belong to
the same breed and are themselves
of unmixed descent since the
recognition of the breed.
Professional Handler:
Person who shows dogs for a fee.
Register:
To record a dog's parentage
with the AKC.
Soundness:
Mental and physical well-being.
Stack:
To position the dog in a
natural standing position or pose.
Type:
The characteristic qualities
distinguishing a breed.
Winners:
An award given to the best dog
(Winners Dog) and best bitch
(Winners Bitch) competing in
regular classes. The Winners are
the only dogs of that breed who
are awarded championship points on
that day.
